Bench Work Progress

Bench work on the New York Central Train Layout upper level continues and after several months there has been some noticeable progress. Building model train layout bench work is O.K. but to be honest it is much more fun (for me) to build model trains, locomotives, buildings and add scenery. With the sawdust flying I have severely limited what scenes I can add so the look of raw or painted plywood still prevails. But we are getting closer. Here are some recent pictures....

 Overall shot of latest completed bench work

 Close up of newly built upper level

 A B&O E7A makes it way under a newly built upper level section

 Passenger trains pass on the lower level while a NYC H16-44 switches a Cargill grain elevator on the upper level

Three levels taking shape. Dedicated subway lines on lowest level run under center of Empire City and Empire City Station. Passenger trains run on lower level. Freight trains on upper level. Track to right of passenger train takes trains from upper level to lower level.   

 Passenger train makes it way over canal bridge. Note reverse loop track branching off to the right. This allows inbound trains to run from staging yard to Empire City Station on lower level. Trains unload their passengers and are then turned on the reverse loop for outbound service back to staging. 

 Upper and lower level access from shelf portion to island portion of layout 

 Empire City taking shape. Still much to do

 A B&O train heads to the lower level above reverse track and canal

  Close up of B&O train passing over canal.

The B & O says Hello

This past week Empire City rail fans were treated to a showcase of B & O power. Due to track maintenance the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad diverted it's trains over New York Central tracks through Empire City. The action was steady and the cameras were rolling

 An SDP40 and FP45 power a freight train on the upper level

 A pair of Alco PAs meet up with the EMD pair while 2 NYC E8s watch from below

 B&O SW7 switches a 40' Hi-Cube boxcar from a nearby industry

 Traffic heads to the lower level as a pair of lovers watch the action from their precarious perch

 B&O GP30 6954 and a newly painted Chessie GP35  head up a long coal drag

A B&O F7A and F7B lead the National Limited into Empire City Station

 B&O E7 1423 leads train 18 into the station

  B&O Geeps head for the lower level tracks under Empire City

Merger ???

I picked up two undecorated Blue Box Athearn GP-35s and one undecorated Athearn Blue Box SD40-2 about six months ago. The plan was to paint them for the Penn Central as I am a major fan of this railroad along with the New York Central. The Penn Central was the railroad of my youth that captures the grime and decay of 1970s New York City. Using Microscale decals set #87-84 and some research on fallen flags I present the following units;

 GP35 #2252 with the red "P", GP35 #2327 and SD40 # 6282

 Close up of SD40 # 6282

 Close up of GP35 #2327

 Close up of GP35 #2252

 All three units were hardwired. The SD40 had all axle gears replaced, GP35#2327 had the front two axle gears replaced. All units have accurate road numbers and GP35 #2252 did carry the red "P" according to Microscale.

Brooklyn Signs

 Brooklynites around the world agree. There is no place like it

 In the immortal words of Brooklyn's own, Jackie Gleason

 A little Brooklyn attitude from the movie Taxi Driver featuring Robert DeNiro

Brooklyn / Staten Island Trip

 The one beer to have when your having more than one. Former official beer of the New York Mets

 B-41 bus on Flatbush Avenue heading North towards Cadman Plaza

 Plaque given to Dad upon retirement from N.Y.P.D. in 1978

 A neighborhood fixture for Mom and the neighbors who walk to the store at least every other day.

 Still serving some of the best Pizza in town, since 1969

Another neighborhood icon, the vegetable store on Flatbush Ave. Note the phone number.

 Bracciole !!!!!!!

 On the Belt Pkwy exiting for the Verrazano Bridge and complaining about the $13.00 Toll.

The Pride of the Fleet !!!! What a great car. Thanks for the ride Uncle S.

Flex Van Service at Empire City

Cargill Grain Elevator

A Walther's ADM Grain elevator kit has been built and added to the growing list of industries for my New York Central Train Layout. Instead of the ADM decals I used the Cargill decals that were included with the kit. The Cargill decals looked good and I actually have a Cargill covered hopper car among the fleet of many that I seem to have stockpiled over the years. These types of cars are some of my favorites and I always seemed to end up with one or two kits when I returned from my local hobby shop or train show. Of course I am always on the lookout for any cars lettered for the NYC and have a few on the roster as well. 

As of this writing the final location of the Cargill Grain Elevator has yet to be determined. Visitors to this blog may be surprised to see it in a different location as I continue to post pictures of the layout.

Here is the Grain Elevator at it's first location. It has since moved on for a trial run back in the more industrial area of the layout.